Charley Williams MBE
Biography
Charley Williams took up her appointment as Deputy High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean in February 2023. She has had previous diplomatic postings in Australia as Head of Foreign and Security Policy between 2017-22, and in Kenya as Head of Communications between 2006-10.
Before moving to Barbados, Charley was based in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London, leading a team supporting British nationals in Ukraine. Earlier assignments in the UK included a stint as Head of the FCO’s Commonwealth Team and work on EU institutions and treaty negotiations. She has a strong communications background, including leading on Afghanistan in the FCO’s Press Office for four years. She led government media operations for the NATO Summit in Wales 2014, and was the FCO’s representative on the Government Olympic Communication team based at the Olympic Park for London 2012.
Charley graduated in Modern History from the University of Oxford (Worcester College) and worked in the world of sport, including on the ICC Cricket World Cup, before joining the Diplomatic Service in 2003.
Deputy Head of Mission to Barbados, and non-resident High Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines
The Deputy Head of Mission is a senior diplomat and typically a key advisor to the Ambassador or High Commissioner. The Deputy is responsible for the daily management of an overseas Embassy or High Commission. They will represent the UK’s interests in the absence of the Ambassador as Chargé d’Affaires. A senior ranking Deputy may also take the title Minister. Smaller missions may not have a Deputy Head.